If there's one thing I really appreciate about Linux, it's the package managers. Honestly, it's something that cannot be overstated enough when comparing the OS against Windows to those who have yet to try using one. Once you've spent some time with Linux package management, returning to anything else feels like stepping back onto a more chaotic front with less control, security, and, worst of all, sanity. Look, installing software on Windows is perfectly fine for most people, but it's not the best way to do it.
Linux package managers are essentially tools for automating the process of installing, updating, and removing software. It's entirely different from how Microsoft handles each process on Windows. With Microsoft's OS, you'd need to download some executable file from a website or other destination, launch it, wait for the progress bar to finish, click through some menu screens, and you're done. With Linux, it's all centralized and curated through repositories.
Let's use GIMP as an example. On Windows, you'd visit the GIMP website, download, and run the installer. On Linux, you'd type one command (pacman -S gimp for Arch Linux) for the package manager to automatically search repositories, fetch, and install GIMP in no time at all. The Windows route takes more than a minute, whereas with a fast enough connection will see your Linux install rocking GIMP within 20 seconds. That's one of the primary reasons why I'll never return to Windows.
The power of the centralized repository
Getting all your software from one place
Most Linux distros will have an official repository of some sort. This central hub is a maintained collection of software that has been tested and verified to work with the distro. Instead of manually hunting down installer files that can sometimes be obscure enough to make it feel like an adventure in itself to locate, the package manager handles everything for you. There's no guessing the download button, no intrusive advertising, and no risk of malware.
Microsoft attempted to create something similar with the Windows Store, but this is a front for commercial software, akin to Apple's own ecosystem on the Mac. It's fine and handy enough that it achieves a similar result to package managers, but not everything is in the Windows Store, which is where problems arise. Not only do you have Windows Store apps installed, but you also have manual executables and other sources, resulting in quite a concoction of software.
What you may not be aware of with how Windows handles software management is dependencies. This is where package managers on Linux really separate the platform from Microsoft's OS — and for the better. One software will rely on another, and the same occurs on Linux, but package managers handle this automatically. Require specific libraries? They will all be installed and ready to go, so the software you chose to install will fire up and run without issues. For Windows, developers need to bundle dependencies with installers.
If they're not available, you'd need to fetch them separately. Remember being bugged during an installation process to also download and install a specific framework version? This is software fragmentation at its best. Package managers help solve this entirely through pulling absolutely everything a particular package needs to run.
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Update an entire OS? Not a problem.
No more pesky (and annoying) Windows Update
Microsoft's Windows Update may be irritating at best, but it largely only covers the OS, first-party software, and firmware for devices. Depending on the application, it may have permissions to check for and install updates automatically, or you'd need to do it manually. This is usually achieved via the Windows Store or through the software itself. On Linux, you'd run a single command, and everything on the system is updated. Firmware, the kernel, packages, and software. It's all updated.
I know as soon as the update process finishes, the entire system will be running the latest packages across the board. And because everything largely comes from official repositories, you can bet it has all been vetted and signed, reducing the risk of tampering. I feel safe running a single command and allowing the package manager to handle the rest. And should you wish to remove software, the package manager knows precisely where all the other files are. Nothing is left behind.
Windows has improved over the years, but if done manually with software uninstallers, data can be left behind. This is usually in the form of specific files, folders, and sometimes even registry entries. This is what can lead to unnecessary system bloat and degraded performance. Remember the craze over CCleaner on Windows? That's what allows such software solutions to exist. There's no need to do anything on Linux, largely thanks to package managers.
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The CLI is the best environment
Most package managers will be interacted with through the command-line interface. This may sound like a disadvantage to those not comfortable with learning and entering system commands, but it's actually a strength. Doing everything through the terminal allows for speed, precision, and automation. A suite of apps can be installed with a single command, allowing for the reproduction of installation processes. Want the same apps on multiple Linux installs? Copy and paste the same command.
This is also what allows Linux installations to be reproduced. NixOS is a perfect example of this. With the right know-how, you can essentially create the same system state with a single command. This can be vital for home lab deployments when the same environment needs to be replicated across multiple virtual machines. It's also handy for a way to back up your PCs without copying across all files. Windows is making progress since the days of XP and Vista, but it still feels like an afterthought rather than being fully baked into the OS.
Once you've picked up a Linux package manager (or two), you'll find it hard to go back to the Windows way of managing software. It becomes more logical, less hectic, and the entire system feels cleaner because of it.